Phocus Academy of Photography » Thaipusam 2009

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:04:32 +0000

Devotees doing their penance in the form of pulling chariots using strings and hooks attached to their bodies.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:03:38 +0000

A kavadi bearer prepares himself for the vel kavadi dance. The vel kavadi is a altar made with wood and decorated with peacock feathers and weighs up to 50kg. They are attached to the bearer through hooks or spikes.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:02:55 +0000

The vel kavadi attracts much attention from devotees and visitors alike due to its large size and its flamboyant decorations. Carrying a vel kavadi is seen as the ultimate form of penance due to the heavy burden and the multiple piercings involved.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:59:26 +0000

Many devotees also hook smaller items such as fruits and bells in their back as kavadi. Devotees say they feel no pain and shed no blood in their state of trance because of Lord Murugan’s protection.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:57:15 +0000

Not all kavadi involve physical torture; they can also be as simple as a milk jugs (paal kudam) carried on devotees’ head, as women and even children often do. Those who are clothed usually dress in yellow and orange, the colours of Lord Murugan.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:54:36 +0000

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:51:58 +0000

Batu Caves attract about 1.5m devotees and visitors yearly, mostly during the Thaipusam festival.

An estimated 1.2m visited the caves for Thaipusam in 2009.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:48:09 +0000

A 43m tall statue of Lord Murugan completed in 2006 stands beside the steep flight of stairs to the cave.

It is the tallest statue of the Hindu deity in the world.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:45:24 +0000

Carrying their kavadi, devotees scale the 100m high Batu Caves temple barefooted through 272 steps of stairs.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto

Batu Caves, Malaysia, 2009

Junjie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:44:01 +0000

Music, which comes in the form of fast rhythmic beats, does not stop at the caves during Thaipusam.

Commissioned by AsiaPhoto